(Forimmediaterelease.net) The Seychelles Tourism Board will be saying a special thank you to all sponsors and partners who have contributed towards the Seychelles upcoming 2011 “Carnaval International de Victoria" during a short ceremony at 2:00 pm this Wednesday at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Beach Resort&Casino.

Over 50 sponsors have come forward to contribute towards the expenses of hosting the carnival and a sum close to R1 million has been raised. Other businesses primarily from the tourism and construction trade, who have not sponsored in cash, are donating their services in kind.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Tourism Board, Alain St.Ange, has said it is important to recognize and to thank the sponsors for they realized early in the pace that the carnival is a national event where the whole of Seychelles needs to rally behind it. “So many sponsors have come forward willingly to offer their support, and I’m happy to note that there’s been across-the-board support," he said, citing hotels, tourism businesses, private companies, and organizations, as well as a range of other non-tourism businesses as examples.

Mr. St.Ange continued to say that the sponsors are leading by example as they want to be part of the celebrations and show their support towards an event that will not only be bringing the people of Seychelles together, but it is the most important single event that is set to increase visibility of the Seychelles islands accross the whole wide world.

The Head of the Tourism Board also said that tourism is the main pillar of the Seychelles economy, and it is very important that more people play an active role in its development if they want it to succeed.

“Tourism and the whole of Seychelles in general will benefit from this carnival, because it will bring us the much-needed visibility all over the world. And in doing so, it will open up our destination everywhere, and it will increase the possibilities of more people visiting Seychelles. Today, we can all say that we care and want the industry to succeed, because we depend on it so much, but how many who say they want and need the tourism industry to be consolidated have not moved to become a sponsor of this visibility drive for Seychelles? I take this occasion to call on more businesses, and to call on committed individuals, to join us and also offer their support," Alain St.Ange said to the press.

The 2011 Seychelles carnival sponsors will all be represented at the ceremony to show the importance of their sponsorship to the country's tourism industry.